World-class field confirmed for BMW PGA Championship, but Ryder Cup hopeful is missing

The field for the BMW PGA Championship is set to be one of the strongest in tournament history, with no fewer than 12 major champions booked to compete at Wentworth next month.

Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy headlines a star-studded line-up for the DP World Tour's flagship event, once again held on the iconic West Course from 11-14 September.

The Tour have now published the official entry list, with 11 of Europe's victorious Ryder Cup team from Rome locked in, and it's possible that at least 10 of those will be attempting to defend the trophy at Bethpage a fortnight later.

Defending BMW PGA champion Billy Horschel will be gunning for a third victory at European golf's headquarters, but the strength of the field he is up against makes for daunting reading.

McIlroy, the 2014 winner at Wentworth, will be joined by 2023 Ryder Cup team-mates Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Matt Fitzpatrick, Bob MacIntyre, Tyrrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg and Nicolai Hojgaard.

Former Masters champions Hideki Matsuyama and Patrick Reed are also making the trip to Virginia Water, while 2023 US Open winner Wyndham Clark is another of the PGA Tour stars on show.

European captain Luke Donald, who won back-to-back BMW PGA titles in 2011 and 2012, is also teeing it up as he finalises his plans for Bethpage, and it remains to be seen if his six wildcard picks will be joining him at Wentworth.

The most notable omission from the entry list is Ryder Cup hopeful Sepp Straka, who announced a few weeks ago that he intended to play in the championship for the third time.

“I’m excited to return to Wentworth for the BMW PGA Championship,” said Straka on August 1. “I’ve had two really good experiences of the event so far and I’m sure this year will be no different.”

But Straka, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, withdrew from the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs due to "personal reasons" and finished last in the 30-man field at the Tour Championship.

The Austrian was thought to be one of the favourites to be named as one of Donald's captain's picks when he completes his team on Monday, but recent developments have surely now cast doubt on him making the side.